Living with Hemophilia A

You don't have to be afraid, living with Hemophilia is not that much different then regular life! With proper treatment, life expectancy for people with hemophilia is only about 10 years less then that of people without hemophilia!

There are just a few precautions you are going to need take into consideration:

• Due to your child's bleeding, you may want to "child proof" your home of sharp objects and furniture or dangerous corners. Anything that may cause an accidental cut or bruise.
• Depending on the severity of your child's condition, a doctor may recommend they wear protective gear every day. Just a mixture or all of the general padding: knee pads, elbow pads, helmets, or belts.
• Remember, outer injuries can be dangerous but rarely, the main factor you have to watch out for is internal bleeding. This can be caused by a number of untreated injuries. The best why to avoid this is to check for some of the signs, like:
  • nose bleeds
  • long lasting headaches
  • a large or deep bruise
  • blood in urine or stool
  • vomiting
  • fatigue
  • neck pain
  • double vision
  • joint pain

• Now, most parents believe the misleading rumor that their children with hemophilia cannot play sports because of the injury risks. This is not true! Your child can still enjoy all the fun benefits of sports. They should, however, avoid high-impact sports like football, rugby, or boxing. But a variety of other options are out there just waiting for your child to dazzle in! Swimming*, badminton, golfing, cycling and tons more are great activities for your child.
  • Exercise can actually help your child prevent bleeding; strong muscles can help protect hemophiliacs from any spontaneous bleeds or joint damage, and sports can help your child develop mental concentration, coordination and sportsmanship!
    • A great guide for helping chose a sport for your infected child is Go For It! This can be purchased at most book stores or ordered online from the World Federation of Hemophilia using this link: WFH Order Form

*Here's a great profile article on youth swimming! Swimming is a great way for your kids to make friends and learn social skills like team work and sportsmanship! fun swimming for kids!

Note in the article:
How to find swimming lessons (including classes for adults), clubs, and teams:
• YMCA of the USA
• American Red Cross Learn to Swim classes (contact your __local American Red Cross office__)
• Club, team and school directory from __About.com’s Guide to Swimming__
• USA Swimming
• Swimmer’s Guide Online
• Swim.com online directory of swimming lessons, pools, clubs, and camps
Associations and governing bodies:
• USA Swimming (sanctions meets across the country, as well as national and international events)
• American Red Cross (certifies swimming instructors and lifeguards)

• It may also be a good idea to help enforce the meticulous dental care of your child to help prevent gum diseases that cause gums to bleed or get infected. Make sure your child brushes their teeth on a daily basis and stays up-to-date on their dentist appointments.
• People with hemophilia should avoid aspirin because it can interfere with the stickiness of the blood platelets and adds to problems with bleeding.
  • However, you don't have to worry, because acetaminophen is a safe alternative that is equally effective in relieving pains like headaches.
    • Acetaminophen can be found in any number of your pain relievers at your drug store like Tylenol, DayQuil, and Benadryl. Make sure to check the bottle because if it contains acetylsalicylic acid then it has aspirin and you should not buy that medicine for your child.

As you can see, hemophiliacs live very similar lives to people without hemophilia! These precautions can help guide you and your children through normal, and rarely disrupted, lives. So get off your computer and get started; we've told you all your opportunities, all you have to do now is take them!